Foldable wall structure for buildings



R. W. WILSON FOLDABLE WALL STRUCTURE FOR BUILDINGS June 28, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 20, 1958 IN VEN TOR.

BY 44% sW ATTORNEY June 28, 1960 R. w. WILSON FOLDABLE WALL STRUCTURE FOR BUILDINGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, 1958 Roy W W//J0/7 June 28, 1960 R. w. WILSON FOLDABLE WALL STRUCTURE FOR BUILDINGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001;. 20, 1958 W//JO 7 INVENTOR.

BY dwfwf ATTO/F/Vf/ W o R June 28, 1960 R. w. WILSON FOLDABLE WALL STRUCTURE FOR surnames 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 20, 1958 Fay I M Wl/JOI? INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY United States Patent O FOLDABLE WALL STRUCTURE FOR BUILDINGS Roy W. Wilson, 5600 Ridge Oak Drive, Bellaire, Tex.

Filed Oct. 20, 1958, Ser. No. 769,054

3 Claims. (Cl. 160-40) This invention relates to a foldable wall structure for buildings, and more particularly to a wall or roof structure made of interconnected parts which may be folded one upon another to collapse the wall into an open, out of use condition or which may be extended to a closed condition for use.

The invention is capable of general use as a partition, wall or root and is intended particularly for use in .connection with porches, patios and the like, wherein it is desired to provide a roof or wall which may be conveniently folded away, or which, in case of need may be extended to cover or enclose such areas.

The invention has for an important object the provision of a foldable structure for use as a cover or wall, having interconnected parts which are hingedly connected to be compactly folded one upon another, whereby the structure may, be collapsed into a small space when out of use or may be unfolded to form a weather tight enclosure when needed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foldable structure of the kind referred to which is made up of parts of identical construction which are hingedly connected for folding and having means for forming a water shedding and weather proof closure when unfolded.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a foldable wall or roof which is of simple design and rugged construction, and which is easily unfolded to place the same in condition for use or folded away when not required for use.

The above and other important objects and advantages of the invention may best be understood from the following detailed description, constituting a specification of the same, when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the invention and showing the same in an unfolded condition for use;

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, showing the invention in folded, out-of-use condition;

Figure 3 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale and partly in cross-section, illustrating details of construction of the invention and showing the manner in which the parts are assembled and operated;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating a preferred form of operating mechanism for seal forming means of the invention.

Figure 7- is a fragmentary, perspective view, illustrating a modified form of the invention and showing the same in an unfolded condition for use;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 8-8 ofFigure 7, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Patented June 28, 1960 Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure8, showing the device in its folded condition;

Figure '10 is a fragmentary, detail view on a some;

what enlarged scale showing details of structure of the hinged connection between the foldable sections of the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 7, 8, and 9.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the invention is illustrated in connection with its use as a wall and roof of an enclosure or room, it being understood that the invention may be applied also to partitions, whether interior or exterior, as well as being used as a cover for patios or for other similar purposes. In the drawings a supporting structure is shown, such as a building having one or more permanent walls 10 and including uprights 12 and horizontal beams or girders 14 and 15 of usual construction. The foldable roof of the invention is indicated generally in Figures 1 and 2 at 16, while the foldable wall structure thereof is generally designated by the numeral 18. i

For the purpose of supporting the folding roof for v folding and unfolding movement, horizontal track-ways,

such as those indicated at 20 and 22 are secured to the horizontal beams or supports 14 and 15, respectively, which trackways may be of channel shape or other convenient type, such as those shown in Figure 3. Vertical trackways, such as those indicated at 24 may also be provided on the uprights 12 or at other locations on the walls 10 or other supporting structure for guiding the folding wall in its folding and unfolding movements.

The roof 16 and wall 18 are made up of a series of indentical panel-like elements which may be in the form of elongated slats or panels, such as those indicated at 26, whose edge portions are shaped for interfitting engagement to form joints to pivotally secure the elements together to permit folding and unfolding movements of the elements. The element may be of one piece construction, formed of plastic or other suitable material and may be as long as the entire width of the roof or wall. Alternate ones of the elements have socket portions 28 formed along each longitudinal edge into which are fitted rounded protrusions 30 formed along the opposite longitudinal edges of the adjacent element whereby the elements are hingedly secured together, each socket being formed with a fiat terminal face 32 positioned for abutting engagement with an opposing face 34 formed on the adjacent element to limit relative pivotal movementof the elements in one direction, whereby the unfolding movement of the elements is limited to form troughs or Vs 36 of uniform size and shape and ridges 37, between the troughs when the roof or wall is extended. Suitable means, such as the packings 38, are provided, positioned in longitudinal grooves provided therefor in the rounded edge portions 30, to form a fluid tight seal between the elements at each joint. i 5 I Rollers 40 and 42 which roll on the trackways 20 and 22 respectively, are rotatably mounted on shafts 44 and 46 attached to certain of the elements 26 at the hingedly connected edges to support the elements 26 on the track-. ways for movement along the trackways to folded and unfolded positions. Similar rollers may also be provided to roll in the vertical trackways 24 and attached to the elements of the wall 18 to guide the wall elements their folding and unfolding movements.

At one end of the roof an outwardly facing channel 48 is attached to one wall 10 in a horizontal position, to receive an elongated end bracket 50 attached to the channel and formed with a socket portion 52 similar to the sockets 28, and the end element 27v of the roof is formed with. a rounded protruding edge portion 30 along each longitudinal edge one of which fits into the socket 52 to hingedly secure the end element 27 to the wall.

At the other end of the roof an end element 29 is element 29 will be in sealing contact with the seal strip 60 when the roof =is-fully extended. t A }cur ved hood 65 is attached to the wall. above the channel 48 in -a position to extend over the roof at one,

end thereof when the same 'is in folded position in the manner indicated in Figure 2. 7

1 Along-one edge of the roof a similar hood 66 is provided,jbeneath which an outwardly opening channel 68 is attached-in a horizontal :position. to the beam above the roof, and twithin'which a seal strip "70 is attached to the bottom :of athe channel. 'An angle plate 72 is also positionedwith one flange within the channel 63 and secured toihe bottom of the channel in sealing contact forwardly horizontally :beyond the channel, and provided with an jarcuate, upwardly facing groove 74 in its upper face; A weather seal supporting plate '76 is provided having an enlarged longitudinal edge portion 78 f circular.shapein crosswsection, which is adapted to be seated in the groove '74 for-rotation therein whereby the plate 7.6 is hiugedlysupported .on the angleplate 72 for vertiof :seal forming material, such as rubber or plastic, and

is shaped to fit Ethe troughs of the roof when the same is V extended, to form -a weather tight seal'between the weather seal ,strip and the roof .elements .26 when the support plate 76 is swung downwardly.

As best seen in Figures 4 and 5, the weather seal strip is attached along its upper edge to .the downturned edge portion ,80 of the support plate .76 and is formed with deep serrations 84 along its lower edge, which maybe of saw-tooth shape or other suitable configuration to conform to the shape of thereof when same is extended.

The enlarged edge portion 78 of the support plate 76 may be provided with a longitudinal groove for the reception of suitable packing, such as that indicated at 86, positioned to form a seal between the angle plate 72 and the support plate 76 in all positions of the weather seal.

As illustrated in Figure 6, the support plate 76 may have an arm 3 8 attached thereto at one end of the enlarged edge portion 78 in any suitable manner to rotate with the plate, and this arm may be provided with a slot 99 in which a pivot pin 92 is slidabl'y positioned which is attached to a link 94 so that the-link may be operated to actuate the arm to swing the plate 76 upwardly or downwardly to operate the weather seal. The link 94 is pivotally attached at its other end to an operating lever 96 which is rotatably mounted on a'pin or shaft 98 attached to any convenient support so that the lever may be operated to actuate the link and the 88;

7 Along the other edge portion of the roof and beneath the same a weather seal of similar construction to that just vdescribed may be provided, as best seen in Figures 3 and .6, the same including a channel lllli'attached to the horizontal beam 14, within which an angle plate 102 is secured in sealing contact with a seal strip 104, located in the bottom of the. channel. The angle plate 102 is provided with an arcuate groove 106 in the upper face of its outwardly extending flange, within which the enlarged, rounded, edge portion 108 of a support plate '110 is pivotally'seated. A weather seal strip 112'is attached to the plate 110 in position to be'engaged with the under surfaces of the roof elements 26 when the support plate is swung upwardly about the edge portion 10810 form a weather tight seal with the roof,:this strip being deeply notched or saw-toothed in thesame manner as the strip 82 previously described. An arm 1 14 similar to the arm 88 is attached .at one end to one end of the edge portion 108 i of plate 110 for rotation therewith, and is provided with 'a slip 116 in which a pin 1 18 is slidably positioned which is attached to one end of a link 126 whose other end is pivotally secured to the lever 96, whereby the weather seal strip 112 may be swung into and out of sealing engagement with the under surfaces of the roof elements.

The arrangement of the weather seals is such that upon movement of the lever 96in one direction the seals 82 and-112 willb move in oex ende p sitions n ca contact with the roof elements whenthe 'roof is unfolded, to p o d at e tight se l thenewitltaud upon m v ment of the lever in the other direction the seals will be moved to retracted positions to permit theroof to be folded away. a 1 I a V For the purpose 0 extending the roof to unfolded position and retracting the same to folded position, suitable means is provided, such asthe arrangement illustrated in Figure 5, wherein a rope or cable 122 is attached to the roof element 29' atlapoint mediate the ends of the cable, the cable then being passed over vertically spaced pulleys, such as those shown at 124. an 12 tta hed to the wall plate .64 at one endof the 10 i, and the free ends of the cable .each' being .then passed over a separate pulley attachedto the wall at the other end of the roof as shown at 123; By :this arrangement, the roof may be moved to its extended position, (as .seen in Figures 1 and 5 by pulling on oneend of the irope or cable, and to its retracted positioniby pulling on the other end thereof.

The vertically foldable wall 18 may, of course, be similarly provided .at its opposite ends with weather seals of similar construction-to those described above and similarly operated, one of which vertical weather seals is shown .at 130, by way of illustration. Ifdesirechthe vertically foldable wall 18 may also be provided with operating means similar to that described for the roof and operated in a similar manner.

In making use of the invention, constructed and assembled as described above, the roof and wall or walls may be :kept in folded positions when not needed, as shown in Figure 2,'the weather :seals 8 2,112 and being swung to their inactive positions, with the seal 82 positioned in a raised 'positionbeneath' the hood 66, the seal 112 being in the position shown in dotted lines in Figureo and the seals 1'30 being swung outwardlyas seen in Figure 2. In this vcondition of the apparatus the roof Will'be compactly folded beneath the hood 65, the roof elements being positioned with their faces in vertical parallel arrangement. 7 v

To move the roof to its extended position, as seen in Figures 1 and 5, the cable 122 is operated to pull the ele: ment 29 toward the wall opposite the hood 65, the roof elements being thereby. unfolded until the edge face 58 ofthe element 29 is moved into sealing contact-with the seal strip 62. The weather seals '82 and 112 may then be moved into sealing contact with the roof elements by pulling the lever-I96 to the left as seen'in Figure6,'to swing the strip 82 downwardly and thestrip '112upwardly.

. To retract thereof to its gfolded position, the weather seals are first retracted by moving the lever'-9.6 to the tial closing of the roof and wall apertures as may be desired. 1 I 7 An important advantage of the invention is that the roof elements 26 may all be of identical construction and may be easily manufactured *in any length, as by molding the same of plastic, so that a wall or roof ofsany de sired dimensions may be quickly and easily assembled.

A further advantage of the invention is that it provides a means by which large areas may be left in an open condition for use in fair weather and may be quickly and easily covered or enclosed and sealed to prevent entrance of rain in inclement weather.

A somewhat different form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 7 to 10, inclusive, wherein the foldable roof or wall 16 is formed of elongated rectangular panels 26 arranged in parallel relation and hingedly connected together, as by means of interfitting hinge elements 132 and 134, formed on the panels along their opposite, longitudinal, marginal portions, and through which hinge pins 30' are extended.

Alternate ones of the panels 26' have trough shaped elements 28' attached thereto along each longitudinal margin which extend laterally beyond the edges of the panel in position to cover the hinged connection between adjacent panels when the structure is assembled, and the panels intervening said alternate panels each have along their longitudinal margins seal forming strips 38' positioned to be beneath the troughs or hoods on the adjacent panels and for sealing engagement with the inner surfaces thereof along the free longitudinal marginal portions of the hoods or troughs when the panels are in their unfolded or extended positions, as best seen in Figure 8.

The panels are assembled as illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9, with the alternate ones of the members 28' arranged above and beneath the hinged connections between the panels to form a hood at one hinged joint to cover the same and a trough beneath the next joint whereby water falling upon the extended roof will be conducted into the troughs to flow out at each side of the roof.

The assembled panels are supported on horizontal trackways 20' and 22 carried on the upper ends of uprights or posts, such as those shown at 12 and upon which rollers 40' and 42' rotatably mounted on the end hinge pins 30 of alternate ones of the hinge joints may roll as the panels are moved to unfolded or folded positions. It will be apparent that the panels 26' may be rolled back along the trackways 20', 22 to folded positions, as best illustrated in Figure 9, in which positions the panels will be in face to face folded condition, to uncover the area between trackways.

When it is desired to extend the roof, this is readily accomplished by moving the panels along the trackways to their fully or partly extended positions over whatever portion of the area it may be desired to cover.

It Will thus be seen that the invention constructed and assembled in the manner disclosed provides a foldable wall or roof of simple design and rugged construction, having ample strength and durability to withstand the extreme conditions of exposure and hard usage to which structures of this character are subjected and which is also easily and quickly placed in a condition for use or retracted when not required.

The invention has been disclosed herein in connection with a certain specific construction and arrangement, but it will be understood that this is intended by way of example only, and that numerous changes can be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A wall structure comprising spaced apart parallel supports, a plurality of panel-like elements extending between the supports in parallel arrangement and hingedly connected together along adjacent longitudinal edges for folding one upon another, means for movably supporting the elements on the supports for movment longitudinally of the supports to unfolded positions extending over the opening between the supports and to folded positions substantially uncovering said opening, and means movably carried by the supports for movement into and out of sealing contact with the elements when the elements are in said unfolded positions to form a seal with the elements along one side of the wall inwardly of the ends of the elements.

2. A wall structure comprising spaced apart parallel supports, a plurality of panel-like elements extending between the supports in parallel arrangement and hingedly connected together along adjacent longitudinal edges for folding one upon another, means for movably supporting the elements on the supports for movement longitudinally of the supports to unfolded positions extending over the opening between the supports and to folded positions substantially uncovering said opening, said elements form ing troughs when in said unfolded positions, and means engageable with elements in said troughs to form a seal with the elements inwardly of the ends ofthe troughs.

3. A wall structure comprising spaced apart parallel supports, a plurality of panel-like elements extending between the supports in parallel arrangement and hingedly connected together along adjacent longitudinal edges for folding one upon another, means for movably supporting the elements on the supports for movement longitudinally of the supports to unfolded positions extending over the opening between the supports and to folded positions substantially uncovering said opening, said elements forming troughs when in said unfolded positions means hingedly connected to the supports and extending in a direction crosswise of the troughs for vertical swinging movement and having portions engageable with said elements in said troughs to form a seal with the elements inwardly of the ends of the troughs, said means being movable to one position to engage said portions with the elements in the troughs and to another position to disengage said portions from the elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,416,540 Woolard et al May 16, 1922 2,307,560 Apel Jan. 5, 1943 2,837,151 Stroup June 3, 1958 

